5 Women Reveal Their Favorite Sex Toys—and How They Use Them

This article was written by Hayley Macmillen and repurposed with permission from Refinery29.

We've all read some iteration of the classic "What's in her purse?" feature, wherein women reveal the contents of their bags and explain why they never leave the house without hydrating face spray or emergency granola bars. These behind-the-scenes looks at people's everyday essentials can be both informative and entertaining—and so we upped the ante by asking five women, straight and queer, partnered and not, ages 23 to 44, to show us what's inside their sex-toy drawers. Read on for their intimate thoughts on their most intimate accessories. (And, if something captures your imagination, go forth and shop!)

Jimmyjane FORM 4 ($145, shop.womenshealthmag.com): "The FORM 4 is the only sex toy I own. It was a great investment, and I don't regret it. I use it primarily externally, by myself, in bed—but there have been a few occasions where it's joined me in the shower.

"Also, my boyfriend and I have learned to use it together (externally) when we're having sex in certain positions. I will say that it’s a little clunky, but extremely effective, especially with the different speeds.

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"Occasionally I buzz him with it, but that usually ends in a shriek and me getting tickled or hit with a pillow."

California Exotic Novelties Waterproof Jack Rabbit-5 Rows ($44, amazon.com): "My specifications: It had to be quiet—I had a roommate in college to think about. I wanted it to be water-resistant, have something for my clit, and [be] in a reasonable price range. This is pretty solid; batteries eroded in it, but it’s fine. The mid-section is supposed to be massaging beads…My vagina isn't sensitive enough, I guess, to feel massaged, so it’s kind of a useless function. The vibrating on my clit is nice with the rabbit ears, especially because I have a clit ring. The majority of usage is solo, but my ex-boyfriend thought it was fun to play with."

Fun Factory Stronic Eins ($234, funfactory.com): "Truth be told, I never got off with my rabbit vibrator. Sure, it would feel good, but it wouldn't make me come. I decided that I needed to invest in more intense, heavy machinery. After much research, I found—and was a little scared of — the Stronic Eins. It's classified as a thruster—a next-gen vibrator for sure…I lie there lazily like a dead fish and let it do the work. It’s nice, but it just isn't a real dick."

Trinity Vibes Fill-er-up Butt Plug ($15, amazon.com): "I LOVE Pinky; that's what he's named. My ex-boyfriend got it for me, actually. He knew how much I could crave anal, so it was really sweet of him. I use it with lube...when masturbating, having sex, and every now and then I just put it in and wear it around the house…I love using it during sex; I can get off from anal, so having that in while getting f*cked in the vagina makes for a hell of a ride. It’s kind of big, but with the cone shape, once you slip a little bit into your butt and relax, it’s easy to slide the whole thing right on in. It's my favorite toy by far."

EmmaAge: 32Occupation: Small-business ownerIdentifies as: "I'm a cisgender queer femme leather girl."Has sex with: "I play with people of all genders (including cis men), as long as they understand and respect queer femininity."Relationship status: "I live with my partner, who is a trans man; we have a non-monogamous relationship, but are very committed to one another and building a life together. We've been dating in a primary-partner capacity for over two years, but had a non-primary arrangement for a couple years before that. Outside of my relationship, nearly all of my sexual interactions are kink-related, and mostly at kink or leather events."

Hitachi Magic Wand Personal Massager ($60, shop.womenshealthmag.com): "I buy a new one every few years; it's always been a staple, alone or with a partner."

Scarf and Babeland Bondage Tape ($18, babeland.com): "For bondage (as a top, and with my sweetie), I stick with either the bondage tape, or vintage scarves (which can also be used to make an awesome dildo harness—I love a multifunctional item). After a workshop with Midori, I really appreciated the versatility of scarf bondage: It's much easier to change someone's position very quickly than with rope bondage. Plus, it's pretty. I like pretty." [Ed. note: Scarves tend to bunch and create pressure points, increasing the risk of nerve or tissue damage, so learn how to tie them properly before using them for bondage.]

Babeland Jaguar Harness ($105, babeland.com) and Vixskin Buck ($116, babeland.com): "I prefer leather [harnesses] [and have a] variety of cocks, all from Babeland, and most made by Vixskin. Some smaller, for ass play, some larger. The Buck is a perennial favorite; I'm not psyched about balls on a dildo, most of the time. Nearly all cock use is with a partner, although occasionally, if I'm psyching myself up before a scene or playdate where I'll be using a cock to f*ck someone or get a blowjob, I'll get off while wearing my cock first, either with the Hitachi or just by jerking off (I'm physically sensitive enough and find the whole thing hot enough that the pressure from base of the dildo is sufficient)."

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Sliquid ($15, sliquid.com): "Does good lube count as a sex toy? It should. Makes all the difference in the world."

Crave Wink Vibrator ($70, lovecrave.com): "For travel, or (because it's so quiet) when there are houseguests...It looks like a lipstick. I don't mind going through TSA with a suitcase of toys, but sometimes, it's nice to keep things subtle. Either with a partner or solo."

Classic Egg Vibrator ($15, amazon.com): "I replace these yearly; the most recent one was from Purple Passion. [I] usually [use these] with a partner."

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